Julia’s professionalism, creative mind and authenticity are driving forces for her career. In her emerging years, she was an assistant choreographer and dancer with Helix Dance Project, and a co-choreographer for Bridge to Artists. Her unparalleled storytelling has resonated on stage with Toronto and New York-based contemporary dance companies. In 2015, she founded TranscenDance Project, an interactive contemporary dance company committed to bringing accessible, immersive dance performance art to Toronto. The Toronto community has been invigorated and inspired by Julia and TranscenDance Project over the past decade.

In April 2025, Julia and the company will bring to life a new third production, where audiences can roam the acclaimed Great Hall. Voyeurs are invited to get masked and explore the daring retelling of a mythical tale: “Ophis.”

-Written by Kelly Shaw (Dancer with TranscenDance Project)

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Which ’hood are you in?

I live in the Yorkville neighbourhood. I love being so close to the subway line but far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

What do you do?

I am the artistic director of TranscenDance Project, an immersive dance company based in Toronto. I also work as a freelance choreographer across Canada.

What are you currently working on?

We are working on our new show, OPHIS, opening in April 2025. OPHIS is a mesmerizing, immersive theatrical experience that reimagines the myth of Medusa and our third new full-length production.

Where can we find your work?

The best place to find us is on Instagram or our website.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Toronto Choreographer Julia Cratchley appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Amelia isn’t just a dancer but an amateur rock climber, an ice cream scooper at a famous and always busy ice cream bakery, and a terrible (but willful and stubborn) cook. Her easygoing nature and joie de vivre come through strongly in rehearsals, where she shows her strength as a whip-smart, instinctive and beautiful dancer.

Amelia is a Leo born in the year of the golden dragon, so she’s hoping this means more good fortune will fall into her lap at some point.

-Written by Yvonne Ng, Amelia’s colleague, and choreographer

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Which ‘hood are you in?

I was raised in the west end of Toronto by Trinity Bellwoods Park, so I really see that as my ‘hood. I always joke around that I don’t think I ever left my little neighbourhood until I started school in the east end. I’m not even sure I even knew what was past Yonge Street, or north of College. I moved to the downtown core (what I used to think was the east end and the end of Toronto) to be a bit closer to my classes and my mind was blown. The Beaches? Cabbagetown? There’s a Queen St EAST! I don’t think I could ever leave here knowing I just figured out how huge Toronto really is.

What do you do?

At this moment in time, I’m trying to figure that out – what to do. Having just graduated with a diploma in contemporary dance, I’m trying out being a dancer, which in itself comes with the need to wear many hats as many artists know.

Another thing I do is work part-time as a server in a fantastic ice cream shop. We’re getting to the end of our busiest season right now and one arm is definitely stronger (maybe even slightly bigger) than the other now, it’s a bit embarrassing.

What are you currently working on?

Since October I was brought on to work on a piece that had been a few years in the making. All that is between is a contemporary dance piece by Yvonne Ng and I get to dance with some other incredible Toronto artists such as Morgan Aronyk-Schell, Johanna Bergfelt, Sierra Chin Sawdy and Charlotte Cain. This piece has been quite challenging for me. I was brought in to replace another dancer and so the piece was about halfway finished, and having to learn new material and then scramble it up and re-work it along with finding the connections to the other dancers – definitely daunting. But I am so so thankful to have a job (thank you Yvonne!!) with the kindest people who are all helping each other to work on this touching piece. As starts of careers go, I’ve been very lucky.

Where can we find your work?

All That is Between premiered on September 12, at Aki Studio Theatre in the Daniels Spectrum building (585 Dundas East). We had 4 shows running from September 12th to the 14th. I am so excited to get to put on an actual show! I’m not sure if people know that dancers don’t actually get to perform all that much, and the majority of our time is spent in process in studios or even just in our rooms imagining it in our heads. But to be in a brand new production with the most beautiful new music score by Nick Storring and to put on a costume carefully thought through and planned- I don’t know if you can tell but the amount of work by so many people all leading to this is too much for me to put into words.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Toronto Dance Artist Amelia Brown appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

-Written by Irma Villa, colleague

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Which ’hood are you in?

I spend time in two main places: my home community of Ohswé:ken / Six Nations and my home city of Tkarón:to’ /Toronto. Queen West is a favourite ‘hood and of course all around the venues in which we perform.

What do you do?

I’m the Artistic Director/Choreographer of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre which is a Rotinohnsyónni arts organization focused on creating new performances focused on embodied storytelling. My role is to seed the vision for new works, germinate concepts with the Kaha:wi kinship team and invite people to witness our creations. I’m also a cultivator of earth: as a gardener and ceramic artist. I spend time researching old ways of knowing including ecological processes and Kanyen’kéha / Mohawk language. I’m passionate about hosting “Inviting the Land to Shape Us” land-based labs and workshops.

What are you currently working on?

With my team of collaborators, we’re premiering a multimedia performance called Homelands as well as working in the creative process for theatrical reworking of the production SKéN:NEN.

Where can we find your work?

Homelands premieres April 14-15 at Harbourfront Centre Theatre presented by Harbourfront Centre’s Torques Series.

On June 20-21, 2023, Kaha:wi Dance Theatre will be remounting a multimedia performance installation at the Gardiner Museum called Talking Earth. This performance acknowledges my ceramic commission Talking Earth as a part of the Gardiner Museum’s permanent collection.

The post “A Day in the Life” with Indigenous Dancer, Choreographer and Vocalist Santee Smith appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

When Covid dropped the curtains on live theatre, AJ adapted quickly, turning to her acting and vocal talents for commercials and TV. She landed a lead role on an episode of CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries and is featured in multiple animated series. AJ is now leading as the delightful voice of “Pipp” on the popular animated series “My Little Pony”. I used to trip over AJ’s Little Pony figurines as a child, now she is one!

Now that the curtains have raised again, AJ is thrilled to continue her live musical theatre career and will be starring in Toronto’s “Rock of Ages” at the Elgin Theatre. Spoiler alert… her character becomes a stripper… and I couldn’t be more proud *sheds tear*. AJ rocks on!

-Written by AJ’s Father

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Which ’hood are you in?

Currently, I live in Rosedale. It’s a nice 30-minute walk to the theatre passing multiple Starbucks to tempt me. I lived all over Toronto in the past decade before moving to Cambridge to buy a house with the hubby. House ownership as been fun but I am so happy to be living the city life again!

What do you do?

I am an actor/singer/dancer specializing in musical theatre and voice-over acting. I pay my groceries by being a professional goofball for a living and I don’t know how I got so lucky.

What are you currently working on?

I’m starring as Sherrie in More Entertainment’s Rock of Ages at the Elgin Theatre. When I tell you the talent in this show is out of this world, I mean, OUT OF THIS WORLD. The singers are some of the most unique and impressive talents I’ve ever worked with. It’s face-meltingly good. Our director, JP has put together an incredible team and is sparing no expense to blow the audience’s mind at every corner. Mark Camilleri, our music director, is one of the best in the country. No really, look up his resume. And our choreographer, THE Sean Cheeseman has the dancers moving in ways I didn’t know were possible. Get ready to rock Toronto.

Where can we find your work?

You can find me goofin’ around on Instagram and TikTok or on my website!

Rock of Ages: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

The post “A Day in The Life” with Singer, Actress and Dancer, AJ Bridel appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

During his early years, he trained in contemporary, hip-hop, ballet, jazz, and modern dance in his hometown of North York, attending Claude Watson School for the Arts and Earl Haig Secondary School.

Kevin is an alumnus of the School of Alberta Ballet in Calgary, where he studied under preeminent dancers and educators: Murray Kilgour, Edmund Stripe, and Wendy Wright. He earned a four-year scholarship from the Boston Conservatory Berklee and graduated summa cum laude in 2020 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Contemporary Dance, under the direction of Tommy Neblett.

As a professional, he has been fortunate to have worked alongside leading choreographers in Germany, Canada, and the U.S, including Monika Felice Smith, Micaela G. Taylor, Jessica Castro, Peggy Baker, Anne Plamondon, MaryAnn Chavez, Shamel Pitts, Eric Beauchesne, David Norsworthy, Zoe Scofield, Christoph Winkler, Eduardo Vallejo Pinto, Kate Weare, and Felix Landerer.

Kevin has attended several prestigious dance intensives and workshops through the years, such as Springboard Danse Montréal (Canada), Arts Umbrella Dance (Canada), b12 (Germany), Nuovo Officina Della Danza (Italy), Ultima Vez (Belgium), and BODYTRAFFIC (USA).

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Which hood are you in?

I’m currently living in North York, near Yonge and Sheppard.

What do you do?

I’m a professional dancer, choreographer, drummer, and creative.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on a site-specific solo work that will premiere at the Common Ground Dance Festival at Lee Lifeson Art Park in North York, hosted by TOES For Dance.

Where can we find your work?

Instagram | Linktree | YouTube

The post “A Day in the Life” with Chinese-Canadian dancer, choreographer and musician, Kevin Lau appeared first on Toronto Guardian.